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Swallowtail — Swal low*tail , n. 1. (Carp.) A kind of tenon or tongue used in making joints. See {Dovetail}. [1913 Webster] 2. (Bot.) A species of willow. [1913 Webster] 3. (Fort.) An outwork with converging sides, its head or front forming a re[ e]ntrant… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Swallowtail — may refer to:* Swallow tail coat, a formal coat worn traditionally as part of white tie dress, also known as a tailcoat. * Swallowtail butterfly, large colorful butterflies from the family Papilionidae. * The 1996 film Swallowtail Butterfly,… … Wikipedia

swallowtail — 1540s, of a type of arrowhead, from SWALLOW (Cf. swallow) (n.) + TAIL (Cf. tail) (n.). Of a type of butterfly, by 1776; of a type of coat, 1835 … Etymology dictionary

swallowtail — ► NOUN 1) a deeply forked tail. 2) a large brightly coloured butterfly with tail like projections on the hindwings … English terms dictionary

swallowtail — [swäl′ōtāl΄] n. 1. something having a forked shape like that of a swallow s tail 2. any of a large family (Papilionidae) of brightly colored butterflies found worldwide, having the hind wings extended in taillike points 3. TAILCOAT … English World dictionary

swallowtail — /swol oh tayl /, n. 1. the tail of a swallow or a deeply forked tail like that of a swallow. 2. any of several butterflies of the genus Papilio, characterized by elongated hind wings that resemble the tail of a swallow, as P. polyxenes (black… … Universalium

swallowtail — noun Date: 1703 1. a deeply forked and tapering tail (as of a swallow) 2. tailcoat 3. any of various usually large brightly marked butterflies (family Papilionidae, especially genus Papilio) with each hind wing typically having an elongated… … New Collegiate Dictionary

swallowtail — noun /ˈswɒl.əʊˌteɪl/ a) the forked tail of a swallow. b) anything, such as a burgee, of a similar forked shape … Wiktionary

swallowtail — n. forked tail of a swallow; any of a number of butterflies having elongated hind wings that resemble the tail of a swallow … English contemporary dictionary

swallowtail — noun 1》 a deeply forked tail. 2》 a large brightly coloured butterfly with tail like projections on the hindwings. [Papilio machaon and other species, family Papilionidae.] Derivatives swallow tailed adjective … English new terms dictionary